There are many factors that can contribute to hair loss, from the natural affects of aging to diet to the products you use. However, it’s important to remember that your mental health can also play a major role in the health of your hair—especially when it comes to your stress levels.
To learn more about how prolonged stress can lead to premature hair loss, we asked experts to weigh in. Read on for insights and advice from dermatologist Rebecca Marcus, MD, founder of Maei MD; Anthony Puopolo, Chief Medical Officer at RexMD; and Dermatologist Ksenia Sobchak of Loxa Beauty.
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Stress and hair loss
It turns out that stress can do more than take a toll on your mental health; prolonged periods of stress can actually disrupt your hair's natural growth cycle and lead to hair loss. This condition is known as telogen effluvium. To best understand how this happens, it helps to first take a look at the natural phases of hair growth and loss. "Most of us experience hair loss as we age," Puopolo notes, explaining that this normal hair loss is typically "characterized by a slow progression in which it appears in distinct patterns." However, he adds that "this is in sharp contrast to what happens when we are under stress."
"The normal hair growth cycle includes the anagen, or growing phase, the catagen, or resting phase, and telogen, or falling out phase," Marcus explains. But when you're experiencing a high amount of stress in your daily life, Puopolo says this cycle can be "abruptly interrupted."
"When a person experiences stress, whether it be emotional or physical, this can cause a higher proportion of hair than usual to simultaneously enter telogen," Marcus says, noting that this will typically happen about six months after an extremely stressful event. Yikes!
Preventing hair loss
If you lead an extremely stressful life or experience a traumatic event that triggers telogen effluvium, there are a few things you can do to manage the issue and avoid hair loss to the best of your ability. Puopolo says that although there's no known cure, prevention is possible. He suggests practicing stress management through meditation, regular exercise, and even mental health assistance, noting that these methods can "minimize episodes and keep you out of the cycle."
Sobchak recommends addressing the issue through your diet as well. "Take protein-rich foods, including meat, eggs, beans, grain, and fish," she says. She also suggests "adding iron-rich foods, including liver, dark green leafy vegetables, lentils, and red meat into your personal toolbox." Got it!
